Saturday, April 20, 2024
SportScottish ChampionshipDumbarton boss Stevie Aitken insists St Mirren are the team under pressure...

Dumbarton boss Stevie Aitken insists St Mirren are the team under pressure ahead of relegation battle

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER |   FACEBOOK

Dumbarton manager Stevie Aitken insists all the pressure is on St Mirren in today’s bottom of the table clash – and not just because the Buddies are propping up the Championship.

The Sons will move six points clear of Jack Ross’ side if they win in Paisley today and Aitken is confident his team can add to St Mirren’s woes, with Saints having lost their last three games, including a painful midweek defeat to derby rivals Morton.

And as a part-time club in the division, Aitken insists his players will relish trying to defy their underdog status this afternoon.

St Mirren ParkHe said: “You look forward to every game you go into because there are lot of big clubs in the division.

“Every game we go into we’re underdogs, we’re going to play teams with big budgets, big ambitions.

“St Mirren are at home and they’ll look at this to try and kick start their season, but we have to go there and believe we can win.

“If there is a wee bit of fragility there among them then hopefully we can capitalise on that.

“The pressure is on all these clubs because they’re expected to beat us, they’re all full-time and they all have bigger budgets.”

 

St Mirren manager Ross, who only replaced Alex Rae three weeks ago admits his players’ confidence is fragile following three straight defeats.

He added: “Whether I’ve been here three weeks or three years it continues to be my responsibility and the determination to put that right and the belief is not going to wane.

“You can work on other aspects of the game and you can talk to the players and motivate them.

“I understand where they are at the moment with how the season has gone, there’s a fragility about them.

“But they have two choices in it; they either buckle or they come out and they stand up to it.”

Related Stories